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IN OCEAN LAND 



In Fact the Lagoon Was Like a Large Aquarium of 
Curious and Beautiful Fish. 















IN OCEAN LAND 

BY 

EMILY PARET ATWATER 


ILLUSTRATED BY 
ELIZABETH M. FISHER 


Albert Whitman & Company 

^udlisAors 

Chicago U. S. A. 

iJhWja 


IN OCEAN LAND 


Copyright 1902 

By George W. Jacobs & Company 
Copyright 1927 

By Albert Whitman & Company 




OTHER TITLES 
UNIFORM WITH THIS BOOK 

The Woods in the Home 
By Hope Daring 

Flag of Our Hearts 
Edited by W. Montgomery Major 

Today’s Stories of Yesterday 
Edited by Frances Kerr Cook 

Runaway Nanny 
By Clara J. Denton 

Merry Christmas Stories 
Edited by W. Montgomery Major 

The Looking Glass 
By Edna Groff Deihl 

Happy Easter Stories 
Edited by W. Montgomery Major 


A ‘ ( JUST RIGHT ” BOOK 


Printed in the U. S. A. 



INHABIT ANTS 


TO THE 
OF THE“GREEN SHELL” 














































. 













■ 

- . • •• • 















► 
































For much of the Natural History part of this 
little volume the author is indebted to M. C. 
Cooke's “ Toilers of the Sea," and Dr. G. Hart- 
wig's “ Denizens of the Deep." She has thought 
it desirable to mingle some fiction with the facts , 
but trusts that the “ Gentle Reader" will easily 
distinguish the one from the other . 




































1 



# 

' 





































CONTENTS 


How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 13 

I. How Sammy Went Out to See the 

World - - - - - - l 7 

II. How Sammy Escaped from the Shark 
and Made the Acquaintance of 
the Hermit-Crab - - - - 33 

III. The Star-Fish, the Unsociable 

Oysters and the Pilot - - 52 

IV. On to Coral-Land - 68 

V. In Coral-Land - 86 


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“Sword-Fish!” Said 


the More Experienced Pilot. 

































How Sammy Went to Coral- 
Land 


“ Well, children,” said grandma, 
“ which shall it be, fairy stories, stories 
about giants, or ‘ really truly,’ stories?” 

They had been spending a month at 
the seashore, grandma, Bob and Eleanor. 
Little Bob had been very ill in the spring, 
and when hot weather came the doctor 
ordered sea air and sea bathing to bring 
back color to the pale cheeks, and strength 
to the thin little body. 

But Bob’s father was a poor country 
parson and there seemed no way to fill 
the doctor’s prescription. At this junc¬ 
ture grandma, like the charming fairy 



14 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

godmother that she was, appeared on the 
scene. She knew a quiet spot (one of the 
few still in existence), where there were 
no big hotels, no board-walks, and no 
merry-go-rounds. It was the very place 
where she wanted to go to get rid of her 
rheumatism ; Bob and Eleanor should go 
with her, and their father and mother 
could follow later when the parson’s va¬ 
cation came. 

It took but a short time to carry out 
this delightful plan, and at the opening 
of my story the children had already 
been a week at the seashore. Such fun 
as they had been having bathing, digging 
in the sand, gathering shells and sea¬ 
weed, or sitting quietly with grandma 
under the big umbrella, watching the 
waves break and roll up on the shore! 
And after supper there was always that 
pleasant half hour, on the little balcony 


Ho<w Sammy Went to Coral-Land 15 

overlooking the ocean, when grandma 
told her bedtime stories. 

They were all sitting there on this par¬ 
ticular evening, grandma in her big rock¬ 
ing-chair, and Bob and Eleanor on their 
favorite cushions at her feet. The little 
folks had been begging for their usual 
treat, for grandma’s stories were delight¬ 
ful, and her fund of knowledge (to the 
children), quite limitless. 

“ I’m getting too old for fairy stories,” 
said Eleanor, who was eleven and had 
advanced ideas. “ Only real little children 
believe in goblins and giants, and I’m in 
the third reader now.” 

“ I like ’em,” said dreamy, nine-year 
old Bob, “ fairies and giants can always 
do things that just ordinary people can’t. 
Please do tell us some fairy stories, 
grandma.” 

“ No, true stories,” insisted Eleanor. 


16 Ho<w Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

“ How would it do to make a com¬ 
promise?’' suggested grandma. “ You 
were asking me some questions yesterday 
about the shells, seaweed and all the fas¬ 
cinating things found on the shore. Sup¬ 
pose I tell you a story about all the won¬ 
derful creatures that live in the ocean ? 
The part of it that tells how they live 
and grow, and get their food will be all 
true, and I think Eleanor will find it 
more marvelous than the make-believe 
part, which will tell about the adventures, 
and the conversations that our hero had 
with the strange creatures that he met 
with in his wanderings.” 

This proposition was agreeable; the 
children settled themselves comfortably 
to listen, and grandma, with her eyes on 
a passing sail, began—- 


CHAPTER I 


HOW SAMMY WENT OUT TO SEE THE WOKLD 

Once upon a time there lived in the 
depths of a deep, tranquil pool a young 
salmon, whom we will call “ Sammy/’ 
for short. He was a very handsome fish, 
and decidedly vain of his good looks. 
His flesh was a beautiful pink, and the 
scales that form the armor, or coat-of- 
mail of most fishes, were particularly 
handsome on Sammy, and glittered with 
many colors in the sunlight. He had a 
very graceful shape besides, and his fins 
were the envy of all the young fish of 
his acquaintance. 

Almost all fishes have a great many 
fins, and although they differ sometimes 


18 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

in position and number according to the 
fish, the most important ones are the 
Dorsal fin, which stands straight up 
from the back, the Caudal fin, which is 
in the end of the tail, and the Pectoral 
fins, which are at the sides and take the 
place of feet in animals. 

These fins all help to make the fish 
the splendid swimmers that they are, and 
are large and strong, or small and weak, 
according to which part of the water the 
fish inhabits. If he prefers the surface 
of the ocean, or a large body of water, 
his fins must be large enough, and strong 
enough to battle against fierce waves, and 
strong tides, while the fish who lives far 
below where the water is more calm finds 
his weaker fins ample for his needs. The 
long, oval body which most fishes possess 
is another great help in gliding rapidly 
through the water. 


Went Out to See the World 


19 


Like others of his kind, Simmy had a 
very strong spine in which was an air- 
bladder. By pressing the air out of this 
he could swim easily at a great depth, 
and by inflating it to let the air in, like 
a balloon, he could rise and swim along 
the surface. 

Sammy’s eyes were large and round, 
and he could see splendidly, especially 
when the water was clear. His hearing, 
as well as his sense of smell was also 
good, and he breathed through the gills 
on each side of his throat. When taken 
out of the water the fish really dies of 
suffocation, for the water that enters its 
throat and flows out through the gills is 
the air that keeps it alive. 

Sammy’s maiden aunt, an old fish who 
lived in the same stream with him, used 
to tell strange tales of fish that can live 
several days out of water by reason 


20 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

of the different formation of their 
gills. 

One of these is a tropical fish called 
the Anabas. It has very strong Pectoral 
fins which it uses like feet when on land, 
and it will even climb trees to catch the 
insects which it eats. 

Another fish of this sort is the Frog- 
Fish, a hideous creature which is caught 
near Asia. It can crawl about a room, if 
shut up in one, and looks exactly like an 
ugly frog. 

But the most wonderful of all is a 
South American fish called the Hassar. 
It usually lives in pools of water inland, 
and if the pool where it is happens to 
dry up, it will travel a whole night over 
land in search of a new home. It is an 
experienced traveler, and is said to 
supply itself with water for its journey. 
If the Hassar finds all the pools and 


Went Out to See the World 21 

streams dried up, it will bury itself in 
the sand, and fall into a kind of stupor 
until the rainy season comes around and 
brings it back to life. 

“ Aunt Sheen,” so called from the 
beauty of her skin, used to tell Sammy 
another story about this famous fish. 
It seems that the Hassar builds a nest 
just like a bird, only hers is under 
water along the reeds and rushes of some 
shore. The nest is made of vegetable 
fibres, and is shaped like a hollow ball, 
flat at the top. From a hole in this ball 
the mother can pass in and out, and she 
watches over her nest with the most ten¬ 
der care, until the young ones leave it. 

Fishermen catch the Hassar by hold¬ 
ing a basket in front of the nest and 
beating it with sticks. When the poor 
mother comes out to defend her family, 
she falls into the basket and is captured. 


22 


Hozu Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

11 And serves her right, too,” Aunt 
Sheen always concluded. “ Building a 
nest and watching over it is a silly thing 
for a sensible fish to do. No one ever 
thinks of such behavior except some 
miserable little fish called Sticklebacks, 
and a few other inferior kinds. Why 
couldn’t she leave her spawn in a quiet 
place somewhere near the shore, and then 
let them hatch out and look after them¬ 
selves ? That’s the way I was brought up.” 

Now, this speech may sound very un¬ 
kind and even heartless, but leaving the 
young to look after themselves is the 
customary thing among fishes. And 
when you consider that one mother fish 
often has many hundreds of children, it 
is not to be wondered at that she finds it 
impossible to take care of such a very 
large family. 

The deep sea fishes come to the shore 


Went Out to See the World 23 

in the breeding season, deposit their eggs, 
or spawn, in some convenient spot, some¬ 
times in the seaweed, or in vegetable 
matter, sometimes in the sand, on rocks, 
or in little, secluded pools, and then they 
bother themselves no more about their 
offspring. 

The salmon, and some other kinds of 
sea fish go up the rivers and streams in¬ 
land to deposit their young. Salmon are 
very strong, and they can make tremen¬ 
dous leaps and shoot up rapids with 
great swiftness. Indeed, the salmon is 
one of the most rapid swimmers in the 
fish family, and it is said that one salmon 
could make a tour of the world in a few 
weeks. 

Sammy was very proud of his family, 
as well he might be, for his maiden aunt 
was always telling stories of their rela¬ 
tions and connections. 


24 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

Aunt Sheen was a big fish, the oldest 
and largest, not only in her own pool, 
but in all the salmon stream. In her 
youth she had been a great traveler and 
seen many wonderful sights, and was re¬ 
garded with awe and admiration by the 
younger fish. But she had grown fat 
and lazy with age, arid was now content 
to spend the remainder of her days in 
this quiet stream which hid itself among 
the northern pines a good many miles 
from the sea. 

It was a pleasant place, with deep, still 
pools here and there in the shade, nice, 
slippery mossy rocks to hide under, and 
sunlit shallows where the water rippled 
over the white pebbles, or leaped music¬ 
ally down a tiny waterfall. 

Such merry times as Sammy and his 
companions had chasing each other up 
and down the stream, leaping the water- 


Went Out to See the World 25 

fall, jumping over the rocks, and playing 
hide-and-seek in the shallows. Then 
there was always the excitement of 
watching for the flies and different in¬ 
sects that hovered near, and which made 
delicious meals Avhen caught. The 
young salmon used to boast of the flies 
they had captured, just as boys and men 
do of their luck in fishing. 

But our hero soon grew tired of this 
quiet life. It seemed very stupid and 
humdrum when compared with Aunt 
Sheen’s marvelous tales of the great ocean, 
and the strange sights and thrilling ad¬ 
ventures that there awaited the voyager. 
He was larger than his brothers and 
sisters, his sea-going instinct was strong 
within him, he longed for the wonders of 
the great, unknown world, and grew tired 
of Aunt Sheen’s repeated warnings. 

This old fish always professed to be 


26 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

entirely uninterested in the doings of her 
youthful relatives. It was a matter of 
creed with her. But in spite of this fact 
she was very fussy over the young fish, 
and gave them a great deal of what 
Sammy considered tiresome advice. 

“ There is safety in numbers,” was her 
favorite saying. “ When you want to go 
on a journey wait until your companions 
are ready, and go in a school. Dreadful 
things always happen to young fish if 
they start out by themselves, they get 
eaten by sharks, or caught by those awful 
two-legged monsters on land, and the 
devil-fish is always on the lookout for 
them.” 

“ But,” Sammy would protest, “ you 
have always said that some of the most 
terrible experiences you ever had came 
when you were with a lot of others. 
That time you were nearly speared going 


Went Oat to See the World 27 

up the rapids you were in a school, and 
when you were caught in the net and it 
broke-” 

“ It wouldn’t have broken if there 
hadn’t been a school of fish in it,” inter¬ 
rupted his aunt, tartly. “ That just 
proves what I say ; the weight of so many 
made the hole, and so I escaped. 

“ The only time when I came near get¬ 
ting caught was once when I was alone 
and got a hook in my gills. My ! it was 
terrible. I ought to have known better, 
but I was very hungry that morning, and 
when I saw that beautiful fly hanging 
over the water-” 

But Sammy had heard this story many 
times before, and was tired of the conver¬ 
sation. 

“ I don’t want to wait any longer for 
these lazy brothers and sisters of mine 
to get ready,” he said crossly. “ Besides, 




28 Ho<iv Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

if I did go in a school, I might get 
speared, or caught so that the rest could 
get away, and that would not suit me a 
bit. I’d rather risk the flies.” 

“ You are an impertinent young fish,” 
said Aunt Sheen, and she retired under 
her favorite rock in a rage. 

That night when everything was very 
still, and all the world seemed asleep, 
alone and unobserved Sammy swam 
quietly down stream and started alone on 
his wanderings. 

It was a lovely moonlight night, and 
only the faint sighing of the wind in the 
pine-trees broke the silence. 

On and on swam Sammy following the 
stream as it twisted and turned now in 
the shadow, now in the moonlight. Now 
it flowed along straight and smooth with 
scarcely a ripple, its banks sweet with 
dew-soaked wild flowers, and now it 


Went Out to See the World 29 

dashed against a huge rock which partly 
blocked its path, or glided swiftly over 
shallow rapids. 

All night long Sammy kept on his 
way, and all the time he felt that 
he was gradually going down, down, 
down, as the stream crept towards the 
sea. 

The next morning he found himself in 
a strange country. The little stream down 
which he had been traveling had become 
a river. There were houses here and 
there on the shores, cultivated fields and 
pasture-lands, and in some places cattle 
browsed on the banks, or stood knee-deep 
in the water. 

The strange sights and sounds filled 
Sammy with awe, and something like 
fear. He kept carefully in deep water 
and occasionally hid under a rock when 
he saw a big, strange fish approaching, 


30 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

for he knew that large fish often ate 
smaller ones. 

Once in a while he stopped to ask a 
question of some brother salmon as to 
the right way to go, but the answer was 
always, “ Follow the river and you can’t 
go wrong,” and follow the river he did. 

When noon came he was fortunate 
enough to catch several fat flies, which 
made a delicious meal. Then he rested 
and dozed for a time in the shade of the 
bank, after which, feeling much re¬ 
freshed, he started again on his journey. 

For a day or so he traveled on, stop¬ 
ping only for a little rest and food, and 
getting more and more eager and ex¬ 
cited all the time as he neared his 
destination. 

Once the journey came near having 
an untimely ending for, unheeding 
Aunt Sheen’s caution as to strange flies, 


Went Out to See the World 


3 1 


he leaped eagerly at a particularly 
beautiful one poised over his head. 
Fortunately for our hero a strong puff 
of wind blew the fly aside at that mo¬ 
ment, but not before the cruel hook 
which was concealed in it had grazed his 
tender mouth. 

A good deal scared by his adventure, 
and feeling much less self-confident, 
Sammy swam away, resolved to avoid all 
suspicious insects in the future. He had 
several other narrow escapes at this stage 
of his journey, but they are not im¬ 
portant enough to mention here. 

But always as he journeyed on the 
river grew wider and wider, deeper and 
deeper. Strange dark shapes passed over 
his head, strange fish swam past him, the 
banks seemed very far away, and the 
currents were strong and hard to swim 
against. 


32 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

For quite a while there had been a 
new and delightfully salt taste and smell 
to the water, it became stronger and 
stronger as he went on ; then there was 
a roar of breakers along the shores, and 
the swift tide swept Sammy away from 
the river’s mouth, and out into the vast 


ocean. 


CHAPTER II 


HOW SAMMY ESCAPED PROM THE SHARK 
AND MADE THE ACQUAINTANCE OF THE 
HERMIT-CRAB 

Oh a wily old crab is the Hermit-Crab, 

And a crafty old crab is he ! 

His home he makes in a stolen cell, 

And the passing stranger he loves full well 
But beware of his hospitality ! 

For a hungry old crab is the Hermit-Crab, 

And a wicked old crab is he. 

“ Dear me ! what a very large place the 
sea is,” said Sammy. He had gone quite 
a distance before he realized that the 
occasion for hurry was now over, and 
then he rose gracefully to the surface and 
looked about him. Overhead stretched 
the blue sky speckled with fleecy, white 
clouds, and off in the distance a long 

33 


34 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

line of white sand showed the shore line, 
against which the incoming tide sent its 
undulating billows. Near the shore 
circled a flock of sea-gulls, and fai away, 
where sea and sky seemed to meet, the 
white sails of a ship gleamed in the sun. 
In every other direction, as far as the eye 
could reach, stretched the blue waters of 
the ocean. 

Presently a large fish sprang from the 
waves, his silvery scales sparkling in the 
sun, then fell back with a gentle splash. 
This recalled Sammy to himself, and 
diving hastily below, he swam slowly 
about looking at his surroundings with a 
good deal of curiosity. 

It was a strange world on which he 
gazed. Water was everywhere, above, 
below, and on all sides, and strange 
weeds and vegetables grew up from 
hidden rocks. A graceful jelly-fish 


Escaped From the Shark 35 

floated past, expanding and contracting 
its umbrella-shaped body, and waving 
about its long arms or tentacles. Queer 
fish of all shapes and sizes swam about, 
the larger ones eying the stranger curi¬ 
ously, the smaller keeping at a respectful 
distance. 

But Sammy had a very friendly feel¬ 
ing towards them all, and was just about 
to speak to a near-by fish, whose appear¬ 
ance seemed to indicate that he might 
belong to the Salmon family, when sud¬ 
denly there was a general hurrying out 
of the way on all sides. Many of the 
fish dived quickly below to hide in some 
convenient spot, and the more rapid 
swimmers took to their fins with great 
haste. 

Turning quickly to see the cause of 
the commotion, Sammy discovered a 
large, and very hungry-looking shark 


36 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

just behind him. The creature had a 
hideous mouth, with several rows of 
sharp teeth, and while not dangerous to 
man, this Dog-Fish, or Blue Shark, has 
a great liking for young and tender fish. 

This fact our hero instantly divined, 
and sped away as fast as his fins could 
carry him, Mr. Shark in hot pursuit. 
Sammy had the advantage of being some 
distance from his enemy when discov¬ 
ered, but sharks are extremely swift 
swimmers, and for a time it seemed as if 
poor Sammy’s fate was sealed. No mat¬ 
ter how hard he swam the monster 
slowly gained on him. No race with his 
playfellows in the stream at home was 
ever so exciting as this. All the famous 
swimming qualities of his family were 
put to the test now, as he darted like an 
arrow through the water, the cruel shark 
close behind. 





fe'?v 


cwA'oso! 







The Monster Slowly Gained on Him 












































































































































Escaped From the Shark 37 

But presently Sammy began to tire. 
In another, moment all would have been 
over, had he not spied far below him, 
partly hidden by seaweed, a ledge of 
large rocks. His instinct told him that 
under one of those he might find a hi¬ 
ding place. Down he darted, as quick 
as a flash, and in another instant just as 
the shark turned on his side and opened 
his huge jaws, Sammy lay safe, but quiv¬ 
ering, in a friendly hollow under the 
sheltering rocks. 

Mr. Shark, disappointed at losing his 
dinner, swam around and around the ledge 
vainly trying to find some way of squeez¬ 
ing his big body in among the crevices 
of the rocks, but at length abandoned 
the attempt as hopeless, and departed in 
a very bad humor to look for another 
victim. 

It was some time before Sammy re- 


38 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

covered enough from his fright to look 
about him, but presently his ever-present 
curiosity overcame other feelings, and he 
began to examine his new quarters with 
much interest. 

He was in a tiny cave, whose hard 
bottom was covered with sand and mud 
deposited by the constant washing of the 
tide. From the walls and ceiling hung 
curious weeds, and a few brightly colored 
shells lay in little holes and crevices 
formed in the rock. 

While thus employed in viewing his 
surroundings Sammy discovered a crab 
partly hidden in the mud on the floor of 
the cave. It was a very strange-looking 
creature, for while the fore part of it had 
legs and claws like an ordinary crab, the 
rear part was concealed in the shell of a 
large sea-snail. 

As Sammy gazed the crab slowly crept 




Sammy Discovered a Crab Partly Hidden in the Mud 


































Escaped From the Shark 39 

out from the mud, still keeping a watch¬ 
ful eye on the intruder. 

“ Fine day,” said Sammy, pleasantly. 

“ Charming,” replied the Crab. 

“ Water’s a little cool, though,” said 
Sammy. 

“ It’s very comfortable in here,” said 
the Crab, “ and the tide is very favorable 
this morning; it brought me in some 
fine fat snails for breakfast. By the 
way, have you had breakfast?” And 
as he spoke he again retreated into the 
mud. 

“ Oh, yes, indeed ! ” replied Sammy, 
politely, “ I had a good meal some time 
ago before the shark got after me.” 
And, forthwith, he gave a thrilling ac¬ 
count of his adventure, adding some¬ 
thing to it after the manner of story¬ 
tellers, and throwing in a description of 
his past life and present ambition. To 


40 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

all of which the Crab listened with most 
flattering interest. 

“ Remarkable,” he murmured. “ You 
have no idea how delightful it is for a 
poor Hermit like me to hear something 
of the outside world. I lead such a re¬ 
tired life that it is a real pleasure to en¬ 
tertain a stranger in my humble abode. 
This little cave is mine by the right of 
possession, and in it I live, far from the 
whirl of society, and being secluded in 
my habits, and somewhat bashful, I al¬ 
ways retire into the mud when strangers 
appear. Occasionally when crabs, (little 
ones), sea-snails, and small shell-fish 
wander in in search of apartments I con¬ 
sent to have a short conference with them, 
but it is a rare thing for me to speak to a 
fish as large as yourself.” 

“ I am highly honored,” said our 
hero. 


Escaped From the Shark 41 

“ But tell me, bow do you happen to have 
that large shell on your back ? ” 

“ That,” replied the Crab, proudly, “ is 
the former home of a Sea-Snail, now 
alas ! no more. You see my name of the 
Hermit-Crab comes from my liking to 
conceal my tail, which is long and soft, 
with two or three hooks on it, in the 
empty shell of some sea animal, snail, or 
the like. Unlike the ordinary crabs, our 
branch of the family all possess these 
tails. Our only hope of prolonging our 
existence is to protect this weak tail, so 
as soon as we are born we crawl into some 
empty shell, and holding on with the 
hooks, are thus fairly well protected from 
attacks in the rear. We can carry the 
shell about with us, and in time, as we 
grow bigger, it becomes necessary to find 
a larger one. The shell in which 1 now 
live once belonged to a big snail. It was 


42 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

just the right size for my needs, and, 
there being no other way out of the diffi¬ 
culty, I was compelled to eat him up in 
order to get possession of his home. It 
was a wrong act, the impulse of a mo¬ 
ment, and I assure you that I have al¬ 
ways deeply regretted the cruel deed/’ 
and the Hermit paused to sigh deeply. 

Now Sammy had very small faith in 
the repentance of the Hermit. In fact 
he had a suspicion that he was a blood¬ 
thirsty old hypocrite, and that those un¬ 
wary strangers who had come to look for 
apartments in the past, had never re¬ 
turned alive. This was an uncomfortable 
thought, so he kept a sharp eye on the 
Hermit, while he listened to the long de¬ 
scription the other gave him of the habits 
and customs of his family. 

Our hero was soon to learn that brag¬ 
ging about one’s ancestors and conneo- 


Escaped From the Shark 43 

tions was not a weakness confined alone 
to Aunt Sheen, for many other fish pos¬ 
sessed it, and this seems strange when 
they openly declared that they sometimes 
devoured their younger and weaker re¬ 
lations. 

The Hermit-Crab belonged to a large 
family called the Crustaceans. All kinds 
of crabs, lobsters, as well as shrimps, bar¬ 
nacles, sea-acorns, etc., are members of 
this family, though all belong to different 
branches of it. The lobster is first cousin 
to the crab, though somewhat larger, yet 
the two resemble each other very closely. 
The crab has four pairs of legs, as well as 
a large pair of claws. He is a rapid 
swimmer, though his sidewise motion 
gives him a very awkward appearance. 
And, although a great eater, it hardly 
seems likely that Mr. Crab ever suffers 
from indigestion, since nature has given 


44 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

him eight jaws, and a large stomach fur¬ 
nished with teeth. He has also a heart, 
and liver. 

The crab, in common with the lobster, 
possesses one very convenient peculiarity. 
He can cast off a claw if it is hurt in any 
way, and he sometimes throws one or two 
away if he is frightened by thunder, for 
he is a great coward in a thunder-storm. 
But, no matter in what way the claw is 
lost, Mr. Crab can grow another one, 
although it will not be as large, or as 
strong as the first one. 

The claws of a crab are his weapons, 
and terrible ones the}" are, too. With 
them he defends himself against his 
enemies, and with them he attacks his 
prey and tears it to pieces. 

His bill of fare is composed of some 
kinds of fish and lower water animals ; 
and it is said that some crabs feed on 


45 


Escaped From the Shark 

sharks and whales. In return fishes, 
sea-stars, sea-urchins and some shell-fish 
eat the young crustaceans, and even at¬ 
tack the larger ones. 

In the sand of the seashore the 
mother crab, or lobster, lays her eggs, and 
there she leaves them to be hatched by 
the sun. Several thousand eggs are laid 
at a time, but as many of the water 
animals feed on the eggs and young, of 
course all the members of this large 
family do not come to mature crabhood. 

Lobsters like best to live along rocky 
shores, where the water is clear and 
deep ; and there they are caught in small 
wicker baskets, or nets. 

As for the crab, he loves to hide in the 
mud, and he can live longer than the 
lobster when taken out of the water, by 
reason of the different formation of his 
gills. 


46 Ho<w Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

The Hermit-Crab seemed particularly 
proud of some of his relations who live 
on land, and told Sammy marvelous 
tales of their strange habits. Some of 
these land-crabs will suffocate if dipped 
in the water. They live in the shades of 
the deep forest, often a long way from 
the sea, but come to the seashore at 
certain seasons to lay their eggs in the 
sand. When once they have started on 
their march to the sea nothing can turn 
them aside from the path in which they 
are traveling. 

Another cousin of the Hermit lives 
in the East and West Indies. It is 
called the “ Calling Crab,” because it has 
a very large claw which it holds above 
its head when running, and this gives it 
the appearance of beckoning to some 
one. This Calling Crab makes its home 
in holes, or burrows on land. 


Escaped From the Shark 47 

Still another land relation is the East 
India Cocoa-Nut Crab, which lives upon 
the cocoanuts that fall from the trees. 
With its large, heavy claws it tears the 
husk from the cocoanut, and makes a 
hole in the nut, and takes out the meat. 
These crabs also make their homes in 
deep burrows, which they line with the 
husks and fibres from the cocoanuts. 
Though a land crab the Cocoa-Nut 
cousin is fond of the sea, and takes a hath 
in it every night. These crabs grow to a 
very large size. 

Crabs, and all crustaceans multiply 
enormously, and are of all sizes from 
very tiny ones to one respectable Japan 
crab which covers twenty-five feet of 
ground. In the tropics they grow very 
large, and are of many different varieties. 

Some crabs live in fresh water rivers 
and streams, some of the lower forms of 


48 Hozu Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

the family in the extreme North, and 
others in dark, under-ground caves. 

Like almost all of the crustaceans, the 
crabs and lobsters cast their shells every 
year. Besides indulging in this habit 
himself, the Hermit-Crab had once wit¬ 
nessed the toilet of a large lobster, and 
he gave Sammy a graphic description of 
the operation. 

It seems that some days before it was 
time for him to get his new suit, Mr. 
Lobster retired to a quiet place, gave up 
all society, and fasted rigorously. Of 
course this severe treatment soon caused 
him to lose flesh ; he became thinner and 
thinner and the shell grew looser and looser. 
After awhile he grew restless. Evidently 
his peace of mind and body was much dis¬ 
turbed, for he rolled about, scratched 
himself, and crawled here and there as if 
distracted. Soon after this his shell split 


49 


Escaped From the Shark 

clear up the back, and then such a 
wriggling, and tugging and squirming as 
there was until finally the whole outside 
shell of the lobster, legs, claws, and 
everything else was forced through the 
narrow slit in his back ! 

When the old shell was gotten off it 
looked exactly like the living lobster ; 
and as for Mr. Lobster himself, lo ! he 
was clothed in a bran new suit of clothes. 
But although undoubtedly proud of his 
fine apparel, he was too cautious to show 
it off as yet. He knew full well that his 
new shell was very soft and tender, and 
that his enemies liked him best in this 
condition, and that, alas ! even his own 
family would not hesitate, if they dis¬ 
covered him, to have a feast at his ex¬ 
pense. So, knowing his danger, and be¬ 
ing pretty well tired after his struggle 
with his toilet, Mr. Lobster prudently re- 


50 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

tired from the gaze of the outside world, 
until his new shell hardened. 

But, when that was accomplished and 
he sallied forth, courageous and very 
hungry, you may be sure that an un¬ 
happy fate awaited the weak and tender 
member of Ashland that fell in his 
path ! 

Surely the life of a fish must be far 
from monotonous, since he has always 
the excitement of hunting his own meals, 
and keeping out of the way of others of 
his kind who are hunting for him ! Still, 
nervous prostration is quite unknown in 
that big water-world, and so it is to be 
inferred that the fishes live only for the 
pleasures of the day, and do not worry 
over the possible unpleasant things of the 
morrow. 

“ Which,” said grandma, as she folded 
up her sewing, “ is often a very good 


5 1 


Escaped From the Shark 

principle to go on. So, children, off to 
bed with you, and another evening we 
will learn how Sammy met the Pilot.” 


CHAPTER III 


THE STAR-FISH, THE UNSOCIABLE OYSTERS 
AND THE PILOT 

It is not to be wondered at that our 
hero should feel a good deal of distrust 
concerning his host. To be sure the Her¬ 
mit had declared that he never preyed 
upon fish as large as Sammy, since they 
invariably disagreed with him, and he 
was very polite and affable to his guest. 
But there was a certain suggestiveness 
about some of his remarks that was un¬ 
pleasant, and his furtive, watchful gaze 
made Sammy nervous. The wicked old 
Hermit’s mouth was really watering for 
this innocent, fresh-water fish, and he 
was only awaiting a favorable opportunity 

5 2 


The Star-Fish 


53 

to seize him with his cruel claws. For¬ 
tunately for Sammy his instinct told him 
that the crab was a dangerous companion. 
So he soon found an excuse to leave the 
cave on an exploring expedition, greatly 
to the Hermit’s regret. 

Sammy’s experience with the shark 
was still fresh in his mind, and for a time 
he kept close to the ledge ready for a 
dash to safety should danger again 
threaten. 

It was a most interesting place to ex¬ 
plore, this ledge. There were big rocks 
and little rocks, flat rocks, rocks hidden 
by mud and sand, and sharp, jutting 
rocks full of peril to ships at low tide. 

In one or two places near the ledge the 
ocean was so very deep that Sammy never 
ventured to explore its depths, while from 
another point he could clearly see the 
sand at the bottom of the sea, and loved 


54 Hem) Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

to descend and swim lazily about exam¬ 
ining the shell-fish, sea-snails and other 
curious creatures that made their home 
there. 

The long ledge had many inhabitants 
and Sammy was soon on very good terms 
with a couple of jolly sea-urchins, whose 
round, prickly bodies were half hidden 
in the little holes which they had bored 
in the rock. The sea-urchins made him 
acquainted with some relations of theirs, 
a family of star-fish living on a flat shelf 
of rock near by. The star-fishes proved 
very agreeable companions, being both 
polite and pretty: They had lovely 
orange colored backs, out of which pro¬ 
truded their five arms, or rays, giving 
them the star-like appearance from which 
they get their name. Under these rays 
were rows of tiny feelers, or suckers 
which they used as feet. With these a 



Sammy Was Soon on Very Good Terms With a Couple of Jolly Sea-Urchins. 



















The Star-Fish 


55 

star-fish can crawl about, or even turn 
himself over if he wishes to, and if he is 
disturbed or frightened these little feel¬ 
ers shrink up and conceal themselves in 
tiny holes in the rays. 

Some star-fishes have the power of 
breaking off their rays, and, like the crab 
and lobster, can grow new ones to take 
their place. They have many beautiful 
relations in the star-fish family, one of 
the loveliest being the Brittle-star, so 
called because it will break in pieces 
when touched. Another relative is the 
Sun-star, which has twelve or fifteen rays, 
and often grows to a very large size. Its 
color is sometimes purple, sometimes red, 
with white rays tipped with red ; truly a 
gorgeous creature, and no doubt very 
vain of his wonderful beauty ! 

All star-fishes have mouths and stom¬ 
achs, which they put to good use, being 


56 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

exceedingly fond of oysters, and such 
like, which they suck out of their shells 
when opportunity offers. 

One of this particular Star-Fish family, 
Meteor by name, proved very friendly in¬ 
deed to Sammy, and through him our 
hero learned of a fine Oyster Colony 
which had established itself on a mud 
bank not very far distant. 

Now Sammy was naturally of an in¬ 
quisitive disposition, and an Oyster 
Colony being something new he was anx¬ 
ious to visit it. Meteor was also eager to 
pay a call, not so much from curiosity, as 
in the hope of extracting a fat bivalve 
from his shell for dinner. 

So one fine day off the two started, 
Sammy swimming slowly to keep up with 
ins companion, and presently they came 
in sight of the Colony. It was a large 
mud bank literally covered with oysters, 


The Star-Fish 


57 


Some were half hidden, others piled one 
upon another, and still others in little 
groups apart. Such a quantity as there 
were, and such queer-looking, dirty 
things, with their rough shells hinged at 
the back ! Every mouth was wide open, 
eagerly sucking in the tiny water animals 
and plants on which the oyster feeds. 

They paid but small attention to 
Sammy, but as soon as Meteor came in 
sight, shell after shell quickly closed, and 
the whole Colony immediately became 
to all appearances, a deaf, dumb and 
blind asylum. Not a sign betrayed that 
they were living creatures, and the dis¬ 
gust of the two adventurers may well be 
imagined. In vain did Sammy ask ques¬ 
tions, and put forth his best conversa¬ 
tional powers; in vain did the Star-Fish 
attempt to conceal his identity by hiding 
in the mud, the cautious oysters were not 


58 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

to be fooled, and finally, much put out, 
the two companions were obliged to re¬ 
tire unsatisfied. 

“ It’s all my fault,” grumbled the Star- 
Fish, as they moved slowly away. “ I 
should have had sense enough to creep 
along in a less conspicuous manner. You 
see so many different kinds of sea-folks, 
crabs, sea-snails, etc., as well as our own 
family feed on the oysters that it makes 
them very timid, and they close their 
shells at the least sign of danger. And, 
of course, once the shells are shut the 
sharpest and most experienced claw is of 
no use. it is much easier to hunt oysters 
before the shell hardens, though it is not 
considered as much sport.” 

“ Are oysters’ shells ever soft ? ” in¬ 
quired Sammy in great surprise. 

“ Oh, yes, indeed ! ” said Meteor, in a 
very superior tone. “ Why I supposed 


The Star-Fish 


59 

that every fish in the sea knew that, but 
I forget, you are from the fresh water. 

“ The young oysters are hatched in the 
shell of the mother in the form of eggs. 
She keeps them for awhile, but presently 
sets them free, and although they are 
very tiny, they have eyes to see with, and 
can swim about. The oysters have large 
families, and I knew of one Lady Oyster 
who had two million young ones, but of 
course, only a few lived to grow up, since 
they are greatly prized as food by all fish, 
and delicious meals they make too, as I 
can tell you from experience. 

“ But about the young oysters : Well 
they are driven about by the currents and 
tides, and finally attach themselves to 
some object, like a rock, or hide in the 
sand and mud, and there they take up 
housekeeping for life, for, once their 
shell hardens, they cannot move. 


60 Hozv Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

“ They are stupid creatures as compared 
with superior fish, like you and me for 
instance ; but of course, since they have 
no head proper, they cannot be expected 
to use their brains. An Oyster has a 
large heart, however, as well as eyes, 
mouth, lips and liver, and he breathes 
through little tiny things like leaflets on 
each side of his body. I have heard that 
the oysters in the Indian Ocean contain 
very beautiful and costly pearls, as well 
as those in the Pacific, and other seas, 
and a good many common oysters have 
pearls in them too. 

“ They say that the two-legged land race 
value the oyster on account of the pearls, 
and that they are very fond of it as an 
article of food ; and indeed I’ve been 
told that this horrible race of land crea¬ 
tures will devour or make use of in 
some way, almost anything that comes 


The Star-Fish 


Oi 


out of the water. How glad I am 
that I live in the sea, instead of on 
shore ! 

“ However, as I was saying, the oysters 
have lots of enemies, and they make few 
friends outside of their own family, and 
no wonder when you consider how very 
stuck-up they are/’ 

“ They are certainly very unsociable,” 
agreed Sammy. “ Still it has been nice 
to learn as much about them as you have 
been able to tell me, and I am greatly 
obliged to you.” 

“ Don’t mention it,” returned the Star- 
Fish, affably. “ I make it my business to 
know the manner of life and habits of 
the creatures I live upon, and a good 
deal about those I have to avoid, and it 
will give me great pleasure to give you 
any information in my power. And 
above all things beware of that old hyp- 


62 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

ocrite the Hermit-Crab, and all his 
family.” 

This friendly advice proved of great 
benefit to Sammy during his stay at the 
ledge, and indeed, all through his life in 
the ocean. As he acquired a greater 
knowledge of the ways of the sea he 
lost much of his timidity, though none 
of that caution that is the safeguard of 
every wise fish. 

Each day as he took longer trips about 
the ledge, he made new discoveries and 
new acquaintances, and though these 
were all interesting, yet he longed to 
leave the ledge entirely and journey to 
Coral-Land. Of this wonderful, faraway 
country he had heard marvelous tales 
from Aunt Sheen, although she herself 
had never seen it. Ever since his small¬ 
est fish'hood Sammy had longed to see 
with his own eyes the glories of this de- 


The Star-Fish 


6 3 


lightful place, where the coral grew, sea- 
flowers bloomed, and hundreds of lovely 
fish swam about in the calm, blue water. 
But it was a long distance, and he knew 
that many dangers awaited the inexpe¬ 
rienced traveler. So, although he never 
abandoned his intention of visiting the 
spot which he had come so far to see, he 
wisely decided to wait until some fish 
more versed in the ways of the sea than 
himself, should be going in his direction. 

To this end, guided by the advice of 
Meteor, he accosted several fish who 
might prove desirable companions, but 
for a time with no success. The Herring 
was unwilling to leave the school which 
he was going to join ; the Cod was 
bound for Newfoundland with his fam¬ 
ily, and feared that a warmer climate 
would not agree with the children. 

A short conversation with a Mackerel 


64 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

proved more satisfactory. Mr. Mackerel 
was in a great hurry, for having heard 
that a school of herring had gone on 
ahead, lie anticipated a good meal, and 
was anxious to be off. 

“ This is my busy day,” he said im¬ 
patiently in answer to Sammy’s question. 
“ No, I am not going to Coral-Land, 
it’s too far south for me at this season. 
But if you will wait here awhile you 
may see a cousin of mine who might act 
as guide. He is a Pilot-Fish and is out 
of a job at present. You will know him 
by the three dark blue bands about his 
body. Now, I really must say good- 
day,” and away he swam in a tremen¬ 
dous hurry. 

For some time longer Sammy lingered 
near examining the different fish that 
passed, but none with three bands about 
his body was to be seen. At length a 


The Star-Fish 65 

large fish of a silver color appeared, and 
as he swam leisurely nearer Sammy saw 
that the stranger was indeed marked 
with three dark blue bands. Surely this 
must be the Pilot, and as such he ad¬ 
dressed him. 

“ Yes, that is my name,” replied the 
Pilot, who had a very shrewd fish-of-the- 
sea expression ; “ and so Cousin Mack, 
told you I was out of a job, did he? 
Well so I am, but I was intending to 
take a rest before going to work again. 
However, I would be willing to take 
charge of you this trip as a special 
favor. 

“ Oh, yes ! I’ve been to Coral-Land a 
great many times, and know all the 
regular inhabitants as well as the ordi¬ 
nary visitors. But as this is your first 
trip, and as it is always more trouble to 
pilot an inexperienced fish, I think I 


66 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

will have to make a little extra charge. 
My terms are usually one-half of all the 
feed, but in your case I think I should 
have to ask a little more, say three- 
quarters. Is that satisfactory ? ” 

“ Perfectly/’ replied Sammy, delighted 
to make any arrangement, although he 
had a suspicion that the sly Pilot was 
taking advantage of his greenness. 

“ Very well then,” said the Pilot, “ I 
will take you to Coral-Land on those 
terms, and will guarantee to protect you 
as far as possible, from all danger. I am 
well known as an excellent guide, the 
White Shark will testify as to my ability 
in that line. But don’t get frightened,” 
he added, as Sammy began to shiver at 
the mention of the Shark’s name. “ I 
forgot that you are not on as good terms 
with the sharks as I am. However I 
am not on ’speaking acquaintance with 


The Star-Fish 67 

them at present, and since I know their 
habits, will promise to keep you well out 
of their way. 

“ And now suppose we look about for a 
bite for supper; talking always makes 
me very hungry, then to-morrow I will 
meet you at the ledge, and we can start 
fresh on our journey.” 


CHAPTER IV 

ON TO CORAL-LAND 

For him who goes a-traveling 
Upon the stormy sea, 

A tried and trusty pilot 
Is the safest company. 

“ And did the Pilot really take good 
care of Sammy ? ” asked Bob, anxiously, 
as he and Eleanor took their places on 
the little balcony with grandma, and 
eagerly awaited the continuation of the 
ocean story. 

“ I don’t believe he did,” said his 
sister positively. “ I just know that old 
Pilot was a hypocrite like the Hermit- 
Crab and ate up poor Sammy the first 
chance he got.” 

“ Time will show,” said the old lady 
68 


On to Coral-Land 


69 

as she snipped her silk with her silver 
scissors. “ It is a very bad plan to read 
the last chapter of a book first. ” 

As for the Pilot, he had his weak¬ 
nesses and faults like all people and all 
fish, and what they were we will find out 
as we go along. 

* * * * * 

Bright and early the next morning 
Sammy bade farewell to his friends at 
the ledge, and in company with his 
guide started forth on his long journey 
to Coral-Land. All the Star-Fishes and 
Sea-Urchins assembled to see him off, 
and wish him a safe and prosperous 
voyage. Even the Hermit peered cau¬ 
tiously out from his cave, and waved an 
adieu with one claw. But his crafty 
eyes had a wistful expression as though 
he said to himself, “ My what a fool I 
was to let that fellow escape! ” 


70 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

“ Speaking of sharks/ 7 remarked the 
Pilot, as he and his companion glided 
easily through the water, “ many unjust 
things have been said about me because I 
am sometimes seen with the White Shark. 
They say a fish is always known by the 
company he keeps, but I think it is very 
unfair to judge me in that way, particu¬ 
larly as I never stayed with the shark 
because I liked him. I knew him for a 
heartless and ferocious monster who 
would attack anything that came in his 
way, and I was a good deal afraid of him. 
I only went with him as a matter of con¬ 
venience to myself. But it was com¬ 
monly supposed that I accompanied him 
as a guide in order to show him the best 
feeding places, and tell him what dangers 
to avoid, and that was how I got my 
name of the Pilot-Fish. But the real 
reason was that I got better food when in 


On to Coral-Land 71 

company with the White Shark than any 
other way. 

“ Our usual plan was to follow some 
ship, which we often did for weeks, or 
months at a time, for a great deal of nice 
fish food is always thrown overboard from 
vessels; and as the White Shark only 
cared for the big pieces, all the tender 
little morsels fell to my lot. I lived well 
in those days, but I had to give up the 
job after awhile, the nervous strain was 
too great. 

“ You see the White Shark that I was 
with then was a very big fellow, (fully 
thirty feet long), and just as strong and 
ugly as he was big. Once, down in the 
tropics where he usually lives, I saw him 
break a man’s leg with one stroke of his 
tail. His temper was awful, and he 
would stop at nothing when angry. He 
had enormous jaws, with six rows of flat 


72 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

teeth, and to see him turn on his side, 
and open those jaws was enough to give 
you cold chills for a week. 

“ The good food that we got from our 
ship usually kept the White Shark in a 
fairly good humor, but, knowing him as 
I did, I was well aware that if the food 
should happen to run short, he would not 
hesitate to make a meal off of me ; and 
although I am an excellent swimmer, 
and stood a good chance of being able to 
escape (else I should have never been 
there at all), still there was always a pos¬ 
sibility of something unpleasant happen¬ 
ing, and it got to be rather wearing. 

“ So, one day when we were following a 
particularly promising vessel, I made an 
excuse to stay behind, while the White 
Shark went on alone, and when he and 
the ship were both out of sight, I 
took the opportunity to escape. Since 


On to Coral-Land 73 

then I have carefully avoided the society 
of all sharks, but what I have learned 
about them and their ways has been of 
great benefit to me, and will be a help to 
us now, since they prefer the warm 
waters of the tropics, and that is where 
we are bound. However, you may trust 
me to keep as far out of their course as 
possible. 

“ We will need to keep a sharp lookout 
for the Blue Shark, whom you have al¬ 
ready had the pleasure of meeting, and 
we may catch a glimpse of the Hammer¬ 
headed Shark, a terribly fierce monster 
with a head shaped like a hammer. 

“ But the enemy that I dread most of 
all is the Sword-Fish, so named from the 
long sword-shaped snout on his upper 
jaw. This sword is very strong, and so 
sharp that it will easily pierce a boat. 
The White Shark is bad enough, but the 


74 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

Sword-Fish is even worse. His aim is un¬ 
erring, and his disposition so fierce that 
he will attack anything that comes in his 
path, large or small. I saw one once that 
measured twenty feet, but that was from 
a safe distance, for I make it a rule to 
give them all a wide berth. 

“ Then there is the Saw-Fish, whose long 
snout has teeth on both sides like a saw, 
and his company is not desirable either. 

“ Fortunately forus the Sea-Wolf prefers 
the northern ocean, and fortunate it is 
for the northern fish that he is a slow 
swimmer, else the next census would 
show a decided decrease in the fish 
family. The Sea-Wolf has a tremendous 
appetite, and his huge jaws, armed each 
with six rows of teeth, can easily crush 
the toughest shell-fish, of which food he 
is very fond. They are often to be seen 
over seven feet long, and being desperate 


On to Coral-Land 


75 

fighters they are almost as much dreaded 
as the Sword-Fish.” 

With these, and many other stories of 
the fish world the Pilot beguiled the te¬ 
dium of the journey. He told about the 
famous Sucking-Fish, or Remora, which 
has a wonderful flat apparatus on its 
head by which it sticks to any object, 
fish, rock, or ship to which it attaches it¬ 
self, and once fixed it is impossible to 
make it loose its hold. The natives in 
Africa use this fish to catch turtles with. 
They tie a long, stout string to the Re¬ 
mora, and throw the fish overboard. 
When the Remora finds a turtle it 
presses its head tightly against it, sticks 
fast, and both are hauled up together. 
Sometimes the Remora will lift a turtle 
weighing many pounds. 

Another of the Pilot’s favorite yarns 
was about the Torpedo-Fish which makes 


76 Ho<w Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

its home in the Mediterranean Sea, and 
which possesses powerful electric bat¬ 
teries with which it paralyzes its 
prey. 

Altogether the Pilot was a most inter¬ 
esting companion, his knowledge of the 
sea was both useful and entertaining, and 
the sharp outlook that he kept more 
than once saved them from unsuspected 
danger. To this watchfulness Sammy 
owed his escape from the Sea-Devil. 
This treacherous creature makes its home 
in the mud, which it stirs up in order 
the better to conceal itself. While thus 
hidden, it waves about in the cloudy 
water two long, slender feelers, which to 
an unwary fish look like some tempting 
article of food. Feeling decidedly hun¬ 
gry Sammy was darting towards this ap¬ 
parently delicious meal, when the Pilot 
interfered and explained the nature of 


77 


On to Coral-Land 

the bait which was meant to attract him 
within reach of the Angler hidden in the 
mud. 

Truth to tell our hero often went hun¬ 
gry during his somewhat lengthy jour¬ 
ney, for, in spite of his other most ad¬ 
mirable qualities, the Pilot-Fish was very 
greedy. Few indeed were the morsels 
that fell to poor Sammy's share when his 
guide had finished his meals, and the 
young salmon had occasion more than 
once to wish that he had driven a 
sharper bargain. But, although he was 
growing thin, he comforted himself with 
the reflection that they were quickly 
nearing the promised land, where the 
Pilot assured him delicious food of all 
kinds abounded. 

For now the water was growing 
warmer, more and more brilliant were 
the fish and ocean plants, and strange and 


78 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

beautiful rocks, like fairy castles rose up 
from the bed of the ocean. 

One morning they saw a strange sight. 
Away off in the distance the surface of 
the water was dark with some large 
moving substance. 

“ It is a school of Flying-Fish,” said 
the Pilot. “ Wait here and you will see 
them leap.” 

As he spoke the vast body sprang into 
the air, and the sun gleamed brightly on 
beautiful blue bodies, and silver wings, 
as the fishes sailed off in different direc¬ 
tions. It was a wonderful sight, but 
lasted only for a moment, then splash, 
splash, one after another fell back into 
the water, while the sea-gulls circling 
near seemed to utter a scream of deri¬ 
sion. Again and again, by hundreds at a 
time, the beautiful fish leaped and sailed, 
only to fall back as before. 





:V:V:V: 


mm 


School of Fly 


















































































































































































































■ 



























■ tf 


























































On to Coral-Land 


79 

“ The y cannot really fly, you know,” 
explained the Pilot, “ for they are not 
able to raise themselves in the air after 
their first leap, and can only sail for a 
few feet on a level. And those things 
that look like wings are simply very 
large Pectoral fins, which can support 
them for awhile in the air. And a very 
silly practice the whole thing is too. 
Those fish would be a great deal better 
off if they only kept to their own ele¬ 
ment, and stayed pretty well under 
water. As it is they are in constant 
danger, for the sea-gulls are always 
watching for them above, and the Bonito 
beneath. And that reminds me that it 
would be safer for us to dive below, for 
the Bonito is always to be met following 
the Flying-Fish, and he is not particular, 
(being always hungry) as to what kind of 
fish he dines on. His usual plan is to 


80 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

follow the Flying-Fish, keeping near the 
surface, and when the fish he has picked 
out drops, the Bonito has his reward. 
He is a clever fish, and being a rapid 
swimmer, is fond of following vessels, 
like myself. The presence of the Flying- 
Fish proves that we are nearing our des¬ 
tination, and after a few more miles our 
journey will be over.” 

This was a cheering thought, and the 
two companions swam gaily along in the 
best of spirits. Sammy would have liked 
to stop occasionally to examine some par¬ 
ticularly interesting object, but his guide 
hurried him on. “ For,” said he, “ this is 
by far the most dangerous part of our 
voyage. The most vicious of our ene¬ 
mies lurk outside of Coral-Land waiting 
for a chance to grab the tourist, but, once 
inside that long reef that you see some 
distance ahead, and we are safe. I have 


a special entrance known to myself alone, 
and no very large fish, or shark can get 
through it. I only hope that we can 
reach it without being seen.” 

But it was a vain hope. No sooner 
were the words uttered, than some in¬ 
stinct caused the Pilot to glance hastily 
behind him, and there, well in the rear 
to be sure, but moving towards them with 
uncomfortable swiftness, were two large, 
dark moving bodies. 

“ Sharks ! ” cried Sammy in terror. 

“ Sword-Fish ! ” said the more experi¬ 
enced Pilot. “ Follow me and swim for 
your life 1 ” 

Away he darted, heading in a straight 
line for the high reef, away darted 
Sammy after him, and on came the mur¬ 
derous Sword-Fish. Faster and faster 
swam the pursued, and faster and faster 
the pursuers. On they came, nearer, 


82 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

nearer and still nearer, their huge shapes 
and cruel swords suggesting a fearful 
death. 

Sammy’s strength was almost gone, his 
fins were growing weaker, and he swam 
more and more slowly, while the mouth 
of the monster nearest him watered in 
eager anticipation. 

But the dauntless Pilot still kept on 
his course, and showed no sign of weak¬ 
ening. Straight at the large reef, now 
very near, he dashed, and then, just as 
destruction seemed certain, he swerved to 
the right and disappeared from view in a 
mass of weeds that grew out from the 
rock. With one last desperate effort 
Sammy followed, the weeds closed behind 
him, and passing quickly through a small 
hole in the reef, he lay, quivering, ex¬ 
hausted, but safe on the other side. 

Furious at their disappointment the 


Sword Fishes rushed at the reef, striking it 
again and again with their sharp swords 
in a vain attempt to pierce, or batter 
down the rock. Then they swam wildly 
about looking for an entrance large 
enough for them to pass through, but 
none was to be found, for the high, circu¬ 
lar reef shut in the lagoon where the two 
refugees lay, like a wall. 

At length, tired out with their ex¬ 
ertions, the two Sword-Fish gave up 
the chase, and being in a very ill- 
temper, and having no one else to vent 
it on, they began to quarrel with each 
other. 

“ It’s all your fault anyway,” snarled 
Slasher, the biggest and Grossest fish. 
“ How often have I told you to take my 
advice in these matters 1 We should 
have kept further under water, as I sug¬ 
gested in the first place, then we would 


84 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

not have been seen so soon. I’ve no 
patience with your stupidity ! ” 

“ Stupid yourself! ” snapped his brother 
Jabber. “ You know as well as I do that 
it is much the best plan to keep on a 
straight line with the prey we are hunt¬ 
ing. We can’t half see if we are far 
above or below. If you hadn’t splashed 

so loudly with your tail-” 

“I didn’t splash with my tail,” re¬ 
torted Slasher angrily. 

“ You did,” insisted Jabber. 

“ I say I didn’t! ” 

“ I say you did ! ” 

“ Well, well,” said grandma, as she 
paused to gather up her fancy work, 
“ everybody knows that a family quarrel 
is the worst kind of quarrel. But in 
this case the dispute had a speedy end¬ 
ing, for the two brothers fiercely at- 



85 


On to Coral-Land 

tacked each other, and right there and 
then they fought a terrible duel, which 
only ended with the death of both com¬ 
batants, for each died pierced through 
the body with his brother’s sword. 

“ So perished the two dreaded sentinels 
of Coral-Land, and Sammy was at his 
journey’s end.” 


CHAPTER V 


IN CORAL-LAND 

Oh ! do you know 
Where the sea-flowers blow, 

Down deep in the ocean’s bed? 

Where the shy plants hide 
’Neath the swelling tide, 

And the Anemone lifts its head? 

Where the Nautilus frail, 

To set his sail, 

Creeps forth from the silver sand ? 

Then come with me, 

And you will see 

The wonders of Coral-Land. 

“ So this is Coral-Land ! ” exclaimed 
Sammy, wonderingly. “ What a beauti¬ 
ful place it is ! ” 

He and his companion had soon re¬ 
covered from the fright caused by their 
recent unpleasant experience, and now, 

filled with a comforting sense of tran- 

86 


In Coral-Land 87 

quillity, they swam leisurely along in the 
placid water. The dangers and priva¬ 
tions of the journey were over, they had 
made an excellent meal on some delicious 
tidbits found among the weeds, and 
nothing now remained but to enjoy to 
the full the delights of their new home. 

It was truly a charming place, being 
in reality a good sized lagoon, or lake, 
shut off from the outside world by the 
protecting coral-reefs which encircled it 
like a large ring. 

There are many such lagoons, and this 
one, called by the fish-world, “Coral- 
Land,” because of the beautiful coral 
within its depths, was only one of many 
coral-lands, for coral-islands, and coral- 
reefs are found everywhere in tropical 
seas. Sometimes these coral-reefs are 
found near the shores of large islands, or 
continents, and then they are called 


88 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

Shore-Reefs. There are also Barrier- 
Reefs, usually enclosing an island in the 
deep sea, and Lagoon Islands or Atolls, 
which enclose a lagoon, or lake, such as 
the one where Sammy now was. 

Near the centre of this Lagoon arose 
another ring of coral-reef, like a small 
circle within a larger circle, and in the 
centre of the second little lake so 
formed, was a tiny coral-island, dotted 
here and there with gay flowers, and 
waving palm-trees. 

Outside the reefs the white-topped 
breakers thundered on unceasingly, hut 
the calm waters of the Lagoon were undis¬ 
turbed by their fury. Far above and be¬ 
low towered the magnificent rocks, form¬ 
ing so complete a barricade that sharks 
and very large fish found it difficult to 
gain an entrance to the Lagoon, and could 
never penetrate to the inner lake, where 


In Coral-Land 89 

the inhabitants of Coral-Land sometimes 
took refuge. 

As for the smaller fish, the reefs were 
punctured with innumerable little pas¬ 
sages and caverns through which they 
could easily gain access to the outside 
ocean, if they wished, but most of them 
preferred the quiet and security of the 
Lagoon. Many had been born there and 
knew no other life, and many, like the 
Sun-Fish had grown so fat with good liv¬ 
ing that it would have been almost im¬ 
possible for them to squeeze through the 
largest opening. 

In fact the Lagoon was like a large 
aquarium of curious and beautiful fish. 
Floating lazily along was a round, prickly 
Globe-Fish, and close behind him drifted 
a cross looking Porcupine-Fish, an odd, 
countrified sort of creature, with his gap¬ 
ing mouth, the sharp spines on his ugly 


90 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

body raised in preparation for a possible 
attack from the strangers. Away off 
among the distant rocks some dazzling 
Gold-Fish chased each other merrily 
hither and thither; a brilliant blue fish 
darted out from a near-by thicket, and a 
company of scarlet fish swam past, ma¬ 
king a beautiful picture, with the clear, 
blue waters of the Lagoon as a setting. 

Far down below myriads of gorgeous 
shells lay scattered about on the white 
sand like gay figures in a carpet, every 
color showing plainly through the won¬ 
derfully transparent water. Here a tree 
of coral rose up from the depths, its 
branches covered with lovely star-shaped 
flowers ; farther below abed of shrubbery 
sprang from hidden rocks, and close at 
hand a colony of beautiful Sea-Anemones 
lifted their proud heads, and swayed 
gracefully in the water. Some of these 



Floating Lazily Along Was a Round, Prickly Globe-Fish. 














In Coral-Land 


9 1 

flowers were shaped like chrysanthemums 
with rows of fringed petals, some were 
shorter and stouter, like dahlias, and all 
formed a mass of brilliant color, pink, 
purple, orange, blood-red, and sea-blue, 
striped with pink. 

Never had Sammy seen such a sight as 
this bed of Anemones, and, struck with 
admiration, he stopped to examine them 
more closely. But the experienced Pilot 
warned him to be careful. 

“ They look very fine,” said he, 
“ but they are not to be trusted.” You 
know, of course, that the Sea-Anemones, 
like almost all flowers and plants which 
grow in the ocean, are living animals, 
polyps, we call them. The Anemones are 
polyps, and the coral big and little, living 
and dead is being made, or has been made 
by polyps. 

“ You see that bed of pink flowers over 


92 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

there, and those green rushes, and those 
fern-like plants? Well, they are all liv¬ 
ing polyps, or colonies of polyps, some 
kinds of which leave coral when they die, 
like the coral polyps proper. 

“ As for the Anemones ; those innocent 
looking flowers really possess powerful 
weapons in the shape of tiny lassos, 
which are concealed in lasso-cells. These 
lasso-cells, which are very small, are care¬ 
fully hidden in the walls of those petal¬ 
like tentacles, or feelers of the Anemone. 
Still other lasso-cells are hidden in the 
mouth of the Anemone, and inside its 
stomach. In the cells the long, slender, 
thread-like lassos lie coiled up ready for 
use. The lassos escape from the cells by 
turning themselves inside out with 
lightning-like swiftness, and woe to the 
crab, or small water animal that comes in 
contact with this lovely flower! It is 


In Coral-Land 93 

immediately pierced by the lassos, and 
poisoned by the deadly fluid hidden in 
the cells. Even big fish have been known 
to die in great agony when touched by 
the Sea-Anemone. 

“ The Anemone frequently swallows a 
whole crab (if it is a good size itself) and 
is particularly fond of gulping down its 
food in this manner, keeping it for awhile 
in its stomach to squeeze out the juice ; 
after which what is left is thrown out 
through its mouth. 

“ All Anemones have mouths and stom¬ 
achs, and some have rows of eyes like a 
necklace around the body. The mouth 
is a small opening in the centre of the 
disk, or head of the Anemone, and this 
leads into the stomach below. 

“ Sometimes the Anemone uses the ten¬ 
tacles around the disk to help feed it¬ 
self, and it also uses the mouth, lips and 


94 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

disk for the same purpose. When the 
Anemone is at rest it expands its disk and 
draws in the sea water, and when it is 
disturbed it contracts, and throws out the 
water from its mouth. The Anemones 
are very sensitive to touch, and will 
shrink up like a sensitive plant. They 
are of all sizes too ; that little blue one 
over there is only about .one-eighth of an 
inch, and that big purple fellow stands 
over a foot from its base. 

“ You see that the body of the Anemone 
is shaped like a column, the flat head, or 
disk, being at the top, with rows of ten¬ 
tacles, like petals, fringing the edge. 
The bottom of the Anemone is also flat, 
and with this flat base it holds fast 
to the rocks to which it attaches itself. 
The Sea-Anemones are able to move 
about from rock to rock, and in that 
they differ from their first cousins, the 


In Coral-Land 95 

Coral Polyps, for they are always sta¬ 
tionary. 

“ The Anemone has several curious ways 
of reproducing itself. Sometimes one ani¬ 
mal will divide itself and become two in¬ 
dividuals, and sometimes pieces from the 
bottom of the Anemone will become sepa¬ 
rate Anemones. Another strange way is 
by throwing out the young through the 
mouth, and it doesn’t seem to make much 
difference whether they come out in the 
shape of eggs, or whether they are fully 
formed, as is frequently the case. 

“ Still another process of reproduction is 
by budding. A small lump appears on 
the parent Anemone ; this keeps on grow¬ 
ing and growing until it soon has a 
mouth, disk and tentacles like the mother; 
after which it separates, and starts out in 
life for itself. Whole colonies of Anem¬ 
ones are formed in this way. 


96 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

“ But come,” said the Pilot. “ Here we 
have spent all this time talking about the 
Anemones, and the coral is far more in¬ 
teresting and beautiful. Suppose we 
take a look at this large tree,” he went on 
in his most school-master manner. “ See 
how lovely it is with its trunk and 
branches covered with little star-shaped 
flowers ! Those flowers are the polyps, 
and they, or rather their ancestors, made 
the tree. You know that the most impor¬ 
tant of the coral polyps live in groups, or 
colonies. They usually reproduce them¬ 
selves by budding in very much the same 
way as do the Anemones, but the Coral 
Polyp does not separate from the parent 
when it gets its growth ; it stays fastened 
to the mother, and soon imitates her exam¬ 
ple by producing a bud which becomes a 
coral flower. And so it goes on until 
there is a whole colony of animals, each 


In Coral-Land 


97 

one having a separate mouth and stomach 
for his support, and yet continuing as a 
part of the family. 

u I told you that the Anemones and 
Coral Polyps were first cousins, and so 
they are, for almost the only difference 
between them is that the Anemones have 
no coral in their make-up. Then too, 
the Coral Polyps cannot move about like 
the Anemones, and they are somewhat 
different in appearance, being more like 
lovely daisies, or stars, than chrysanthe¬ 
mums. 

“ The coral is made from the lime of 
which the water of the ocean contains a 
large quantity, and is hidden in the sides 
and lower part of the polyp, there being 
none in the stomach and disk. When 
the polyp dies the fleshy part decays, and 
the coral, which is the skeleton of the 
polyp, is left. It is very hard, being 


98 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

composed of carbonate of lime, and will 
last for ages. The inside of this tree that 
we are looking at is all dead coral, or 
corallum, while the flowers that are on 
the outside of the trunk and branches 
are the living animals. 

“ Some kinds of coral polyps bud and 
extend in different directions, and that 
accounts for the many wonderful shapes in 
which coral grows. Some species divide 
in two, like the Anemones, but the ma¬ 
jority live in families, or colonies. There 
are coral reefs and coral trees, domes and 
balls of coral, graceful vases, and all sorts 
and kinds of different plants and odd 
growths. 

“ You know that living coral cannot ex¬ 
ist above the surface of the ocean, for ex¬ 
posure to the sun and air kills the 
polyps ; yet it is always growing upward 
and outward, the living animals making 


In Coral-Land 


99 

their homes upon the tombs of their an¬ 
cestors, so to speak, until they in their 
turn perish and add their skeletons to 
the growing structure. 

“ The most wonderful of all coral is that 
found in the coral reefs, which are so old 
that the most ancient fish in all fishdom, 
or his great-grandfather before him, could 
not tell when they were begun; and so 
hard and enduring that the storms of 
centuries have never been able to destroy 
them. But strong as they are, the 
mighty ocean, (both friend and foe to 
the coral), is still stronger, and in time 
the constant washing and beating of the 
tides wear away portions of the hard 
rock, changes the formation of the reefs, 
and helps in a large measure in the ma¬ 
king of the lovely coral islands. But 
still the coral goes on growing, the living 
polyps protecting the dead coral below 


ioo Houf Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

and beneath, and then dying to make 
way for the next generation. And so 
the coral holds its own in spite of the 
fury of the sea, and the many little bor¬ 
ing water animals that strive to pene¬ 
trate the dead coral, and crumble the 
rock into ruins. But the coral has its 
friends, as well as enemies, and the most 
useful of the first are various weeds and 
plants which grow on the reefs, and be¬ 
side protecting the upper parts from ex¬ 
posure, help in their formation by leaving 
a kind of coral behind them when they die. 

“ If you will look about you,” went on 
the Pilot, “ you will see what beautiful 
colors some of the coral has. See that 
big piece over there like a large red toad¬ 
stool, and this curious vase all covered 
on the outside with tiny polyps like pur¬ 
ple stars ! You will find it in many lovely 
colors, and still more fantastic shapes. I 


In Coral-Land 


01 


have heard that some varieties of pink 
and red coral are very highly valued for 
jewelry by the two-legged land race.” 

In this manner the learned Pilot dis¬ 
coursed to his pupil, being only too glad 
to have an excuse for showing off his su¬ 
perior knowledge; and Sammy drank it 
all in, having in mind the time when he 
should return to his far-away home and 
brag of his adventures to the simple 
fresh-water fish. 

Beside acting as guide, and explaining 
to his companion the mysteries of Coral- 
Land, the Pilot kindly introduced 
Sammy to some of his acquaintances and 
friends. One of these was a very large 
odd-looking Sun-Fish, a curious creature, 
all head and no body. This fish, being 
very haughty in his manners, and ex¬ 
clusive in his tastes, was considered very 
aristocratic : and having spent the greater 



102 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

part of his life in the Lagoon, was ac¬ 
knowledged as the great social leader of 
Coral-Land. 

The Sun-Fish presented Sammy to the 
Trunk-Fish, (so named from his curious 
shape), and the Trunk-Fish in turn in¬ 
troduced him to the Globe-Fish and the 
Porcupine-Fish, and they made him ac¬ 
quainted with the family of scarlet fish, 
and some handsome gold-fish. Two of 
the gold-fish, called respectively Gay and 
Gilt, were particularly friendly to Sammy, 
who soon found them much more enter¬ 
taining than the worthy, but somewhat 
prosy Pilot. 

So, as the days went on, our hero spent 
more and more of his time in the com¬ 
pany of his new friends, while the Pilot 
was content, now that his duty was done, 
to gossip with the Sun-Fish, or betake 
himself to some particularly good feeding 


In Coral-Land 


103 

ground of which he knew. Coral-Land 
abounded in quantities of good things 
such as fishes love, and Sammy soon 
grew fat, for Gay and Gilt were much less 
greedy than the Pilot, and always shared 
their meals evenly with their friend. It 
did not take him long to learn what to 
enjoy and what to avoid, both in the way 
of food and acquaintances, and he found 
it a most useful form of knowledge. 

Thus he learned to beware of the grace¬ 
ful jelly-fishes who were constantly to be 
met floating about, their long tentacles 
streaming behind, and their umbrella¬ 
shaped disks expanding and contracting 
as they swam, for he knew that the Jelly- 
Fish was a cousin of the Sea-Anemone, 
and that its tentacles could sting most 
unpleasantly. So he admired them from 
a distance, and very beautiful they were, 
especially at night, when their gleaming 


104 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

phosphorescent bodies lighted up the 
darkness of the sleeping Lagoon. 

Sammy learned that the affectionate 
embrace of the many-armed Octopus was 
not to be desired; and that a thicket of 
seaweed is a good hiding-place from a 
chance enemy, and is apt to contain many 
delicious tidbits in the way of fish food. 
He knew the manners and habits of the 
many brilliant-hued fish who live in 
Coral-Land ; and he knew that the floor 
of the Lagoon had as many curious and 
beautiful inhabitants as its waters. 
There the Star-Fish sprawled on the 
sand, the Sea-Cucumber crawled along, 
expanding and contracting its worm-like 
body; there the Sea-Urchin hid himself 
in the rock, and shells large and small, 
pink, blue, red and all the colors of the 
rainbow lay scattered about on the sand 
and rocks. 


In Coral-Land 


10 5 

All these shells had, of course, their 
living inhabitants, for a shell is always 
the home of some water animal, and when 
the owner dies the shell is left as a monu¬ 
ment, and very beautiful monuments 
most of them are. 

The Sea-Snail, the Cockle, the Razor- 
shell and many others have each a good- 
sized foot which helps them in crawling 
along, or in boring holes for themselves 
in the rocks. 

Sammy had taken some pains to be¬ 
come acquainted with the Nautilus and 
his family, whose beautiful little boats he 
had often seen sailing gaily along on the 
surface of the Lagoon, especially after a 
storm when the water was calm. 

The Nautilus has a beautiful spiral 
mother-of-pearl shell, and when on a 
voyage it uses part of its body as a sail, 
and the long tentacles about its mouth 


io6 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

help it in swimming. It spends a good 
deal of its time on the bottom of the 
ocean near the coral reefs, and can creep 
along very quickly, supporting itself with 
its head and tentacles. The head is flat 
and muscular and acts as a defense to the 
opening of the shell, and the Nautilus 
also possesses very strong jaws which it 
makes good use of in crushing crabs and 
other shell-fish on which it feeds. 

Sammy found it rather difficult at first 
to come to a friendly understanding with 
the Nautilus, for the gallant little mar¬ 
iner was somewhat shy of strangers, and 
would frequently show his distrust by 
suddenly drawing in his tentacles, up¬ 
setting his shell, and dropping to the bot¬ 
tom of the Lagoon, thus effectually cut¬ 
ting short any conversation. But this 
was only his way of protecting himself; 
after a time he grew bolder, and being a 



Sammy Was Daily Growing More and More Weary of This Peaceful Lagoon 

































. 





































































































In Coral-Land 


°7 


true sailor spun many a wonderful yarn 
about his voyages. 

To the Nautilus Sammy was indebted 
for a most important piece of information. 
It happened in this wise. He had now 
spent several weeks in Coral-Land. He 
knew the Lagoon thoroughly from end 
to end, the best feeding and hiding-places, 
the delightful caverns and caves in the 
reefs, and was on friendly terms with al¬ 
most all its inhabitants. But a fish is a 
restless creature, and, strange to say, 
Sammy was daily growing more and more 
weary of this peaceful Lagoon. It was 
all very wonderful to be sure, the beauti¬ 
ful coral in its lovely colors and fantastic 
shapes, the gay flowers and plants, the 
strange shells, and the brilliant, sparkling 
fish ; but then the warm water was cer¬ 
tainly enervating, and the mountain 
stream that he called home had many 


108 How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

charms, now that he was no longer 
there. 

The Pilot-Fish had long since departed 
for other scenes, and Sammy wished that 
he had consented to accompany him. 
Now it was too late, and the only thing 
to do was to wait and hope for some way 
of beating a retreat. Not caring to con¬ 
fide his weakness to his two friends, who 
would not understand it, he kept his 
secret to himself, longing more and more 
for that quiet mountain stream so very 
far away. 

One fine day as Sammy was swimming 
sadly along, and alone, near the outer 
reef of the Lagoon, his friend, the Nauti¬ 
lus approached him in great excitement. 

“ I’ve seen such a strange sight,” he 
exclaimed eagerly, sailing close up to the 
salmon in his haste. “ This morning I 
thought I would have a little adventure, 


In Coral-Land 


109 

for it s very tiresome spending so much 
time in the Lagoon, so I found my way, 
through a passage known only to myself, 
out to the ocean, and such fun as I had 
sailing up and down ! To be sure I had 
to keep a pretty sharp outlook, for it is a 
dangerous place out there. However, 
nothing of any consequence happened, 
and I was beginning to feel a little dis¬ 
appointed, when suddenly, only a short 
distance away, I saw a school of large, 
pink fish, very much like you in appear¬ 
ance, and all swimming north. Never 
before in all my experience have I 
known a school of fish of that kind in 
our neighborhood ! It will be the talk 
of Coral-Land for a week. Excuse me, 
but I really must go and tell my family,” 
and abruptly upsetting his shell the Nau¬ 
tilus disappeared at once from view. 

For a moment Sammy hesitated. Gay 


i io How Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

and Gilt, with his other friends, were far 
away. Should he try to find them and 
say good-bye? No, it would take too 
much time, and they would be sure to 
protest against his going, and then the 
school would be out of sight. One swift 
glance about him, and away he dashed ; 
another moment and he was at the reef, 
a passageway out was found, and darting 
through the breakers, he rose to the sur¬ 
face and looked forth once more on the 
broad ocean. Behind him lay all the 
wonders and beauties of Coral-Land, and 
there, far away towards the north, a mass 
of moving fish darkened the surface of 
the water. Could he reach them before 
they disappeared, or before some hideous 
monster saw and intercepted his flight? 
Away he darted, faster, faster, and still 
faster. Now the school was getting 
larger, he was surely gaining; still 


In Coral-Land 


111 

nearer, and lie could see the sun gleam 
on countless scales ; nearer still, one final 
effort, and the school of salmon opened 
to receive him, and then swept on north¬ 
ward and homeward. 

There was a pause. Grandma dropped 
her work, and leaning idly back in her 
rocking-chair, gazed dreamily out over 
the ocean, sparkling in its sunset glory. 

“ Is that all ? ” inquired Eleanor. 
“ Didn’t Sammy really get home ? ” 

“ That is all,” said grandma. “ What 
became of our hero after he joined the 
school of salmon I never knew. In all 
likelihood he never left his companions. 
But whether he guided them to the 
pleasant waters of that mountain stream, 
or whether they took him with them to 
some lake or inland river, I cannot tell.” 

As for Gay and Gilt, they long mourned 


11 2 Hovj Sammy Went to Coral-Land 

the mysterious disappearance of their 
playfellow, and often now when the sun 
shines brightly on the blue waters of the 
Lagoon, when the Nautilus sails forth on 
his voyage, and the sea-flowers sway and 
nod in their deep beds, the two gold-fish 
swim sadly about amid the depths of 
Coral-Land and tell stories to the passing 
stranger of the merry young salmon who 
came from the north, so long ago. 


THE END. 








































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